In wintertime, Grand Canyon weather varies from blue skies to blizzards. Average daytime highs at the South Rim can range from the 30’s to the ‘60’s. Nights are VERY cold with average lows ranging from subzero to the upper 20’s. The Grand Canyon is at 7,000,’ which means it snows up here, with accumulations of 12” or more occurring occasionally, though most storms usually drop just a few inches of snow that melt within a few days. The North Rim is closed during the winter as snowfall is typically much heavier there.

Windy afternoons are common year-round. Be prepared by carrying a light jacket and maybe a rain poncho in case precipitation is expected. Check the weather as your trip date

Travel Tip 14 – Will My Cell Phone Work in the Park?

Don’t count on it 100%. The primary providers in the Grand Canyon area are Alltel and Verizon, but even their subscribers report occasional inconsistencies with their service due to the ruggedness of the terrain and the altitude. If you need to provide a phone number for family or work to get ahold of you, give them your hotel phone numbers just in case.

Travel Tip 15 – Can I Bring My Laptop or Check E-mail? GrandCanyon.com’s preferred hotel at the South Rim, the Best Western

Grand Canyon Squire Inn , has DSL in its Deluxe Rooms. If you are not staying at the hotel, there is also a DSL connection in the lobby where you can plug in your laptop. There is also an Internet Café in Tusayan across from the Holiday Inn Express. Inside the park, Maswik and Yavapai Lodges have internet kiosks available for a nominal fee. Check with the front desk at these hotels for pricing. If you’re visiting the North Rim, the closest place to check your e-mail will be Vermillion Espresso in Kanab, Utah (1.5 hours away), or Beans Coffee House in Page, AZ (2.5 hours).

Travel Tip 16 – Is That the Right Time?

The Grand Canyon is on Mountain Standard Time year-round. Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation) does NOT observe daylight savings time, which means that when the rest of the country “springs forward” and “falls back,” we don’t. Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and Colorado all observe daylight savings time. Arizona is on the same time as Nevada during the summer months; Utah, New Mexico and Colorado are all one hour ahead. During the winter months, Arizona is one hour ahead of Nevada, but on the same time as Utah, Colorado and New Mexico. Be sure you keep this in mind when scheduling activities, especially those that require you to cross time zones (e.g., driving from Las Vegas to Williams for the Grand Canyon Railway during Standard Time months, or from Grand Canyon to the Navajo Indian Reservation during Daylight Savings Time periods). When in doubt, check it out.